Scaevola plant named ‘Duescalbu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Scaevola  plant named ‘Duescalbu’, characterized by its semi-compact, mounded and outwardly spreading plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; violet-colored flowers; and good container and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Scaevola aemula.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUESCALBU’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Scaevola plant, botanically known as Scaevola aemula and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duescalbu’.

The new Scaevola plant a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create compact and freely branching Scaevola plants with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Scaevola plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany in July, 2007 of a proprietary selection of Scaevola aemula identified as code number F-019-001, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Scaevola aemula identified as code number F-02-001, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Scaevola plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Scaevola plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2010 has shown that the unique features of this new Scaevola plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Scaevola have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duescalbu’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duescalbu’ as a new and distinct Scaevola plant:

-   -   1. Semi-compact, mounded and outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Violet-colored flowers.     -   6. Good container and garden performance.

Plants of the new Scaevola can be compared to plants of the parent selections. Plants of the new Scaevola differ from plants of the parent selections in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Scaevola are more compact than plants of         the parent selections.     -   2. Plants of the new Scaevola are more freely branching than         plants of the parent selections.

Plants of the new Scaevola can be compared to plants of the Scaevola aemula ‘Wesscaetob’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,658. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Scaevola differed from plants of the ‘Wesscaetob’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Scaevola were more vigorous than plants of         ‘Wesscaetob’.     -   2. Plants of the new Scaevola had longer internodes than plants         of ‘Wesscaetob’.     -   3. Plants of the new Scaevola and ‘Wesscaetob’ differed slightly         in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Scaevola plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Scaevola plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duescalbu’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under environmental conditions and cultural practices which closely approximate commercial Scaevola production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched three weeks after planting and were 20 weeks old when the photograph and detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Scaevola aemula ‘Duescalbu’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Scaevola             aemula identified as code number F-019-001, not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Scaevola             aemula identified as code number F-02-001, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at about 20°             C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About ten days at about 20°             C.         -   Time to develop roots, summer.—About three weeks at about             20° C.         -   Time to develop roots, winter.—About four weeks at about 20°             C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Semi-compact, mounded and             spreading plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, lateral branches             potentially forming at every node; pinching enhances             branching potential.         -   Plant height.—About 8 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 12 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 10 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 3.3 cm.         -   Aspect.—Outwardly spreading.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 148A and 145A to 145B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 5.2 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.9 cm.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation,             close to 147A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 146B; venation, close to 146B.         -   Petiole length.—About 9 mm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces.—Close to 145A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and shape.—Zygomorphic, semi-circular,             fan-shaped flowers with five petals fused at the base to             form a tubular flower throat; flower throat open along the             upper surface exposing reproductive organs.         -   Flower arrangement and quantity.—Solitary sessile flowers             arising from leaf axils; flowers face upright to outwardly;             freely flowering habit with typically about five flowers             developing per lateral branch.         -   Flowering time.—Plants begin flowering after about six weeks             after planting; in Germany, plants flower continuously             during the spring in the garden and outdoor nurseries.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers typically last about five to seven             days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower buds.—Shape: Ensiform. Length: About 1.2 cm.             Diameter: About 2 mm. Color: Close to 145C and 84A.         -   Flowers.—Diameter: About 1.5 cm. Height: About 8 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: Five, fused at base. Shape: Elliptic.             Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Length: About 2.5 cm. Width:             About 1.5 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 88A.             When opening, lower surface: Close to 88C. Fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 88B; color becoming closer to 88C             with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 88C;             color becoming closer to 88D with development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity: Two per flower. Length: About 5 mm. Width:             About 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly             pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             About five. Filament length: About 4.5 mm. Filament color:             Close to 163C. Anther shape: Rounded. Anther length: About             1 mm. Anther color: Close to 177A. Pollen: Scarce. Pollen             color: Close to 3B. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per flower:             One. Pistil length: About 1.2 cm. Style length: Close to             8.5 mm. Style color: Close to 59A. Stigma shape: V-shaped.             Stigma color: Close to 144C and 155A. Ovary color: Close to             144A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Scaevola. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Scaevola have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Scaevola have not been     shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Scaevola. 

1. A new and distinct Scaevola plant named ‘Duescalbu’ as illustrated and described. 